January 1st. The day we say goodbye to the 12 months we have just successfully soldiered through and now turn to embrace the beginning of a shiny, fresh-faced new year with renewed anticipation and promise. That’s how the rest of the world does it. Here at The Magic Castle, we wait an extra day. January 2 is Founders’ Day, the day we celebrate the anniversary of the opening of our beloved club and the founders who made it happen: Bill, Irene, and Milt Larsen. It may be the day after everybody is cheering, blowing horns, and drinking toasts, but the celebratory spirit here is just as evident. And this time around, the hopeful anticipation and promised expectation were almost palpable.
If you’re an AMA member and/or are in certain Facebook groups, you’ve likely been pummeled by DEFCON 1-level hand-wringing. But right before Christmas, an overwhelming majority of members voted to give Randy Pitchford what he wanted— approval for the AMA Board of Directors to continue negotiations with Magic Castle Enterprises (MCE), with the understanding that MCE would take over commercial operations while the AMA focuses on organizational efforts consistent with its non-profit mission—thereby seeming to ensure that the AMA could continue to operate within the walls of the mansion as it was always intended. And yea, peace was once again restored to the land, and there was much rejoicing among the flock.